Correlates of Social, Demographic and Behavioral Factors affecting Adolescent Sexuality in a Traditional Society in India: Perspectives and Challenges

Background: Adolescent risk behavior is a major concern.Objectives: The study assessed the effect of school background, personal, social and other deviant behavior on school going adolescent sexual behavior. Material and Methods: The sample covered 3069 randomly selected adolescents (students) from 9th to 12th standard in various governments, private and missionary run schools from two districts namely; Aizawl being state capital and Champhai being distant under developed district.Summary: School background, leisure and entertainment practices, influence of taking alcohol, tobacco, drug, peer influence were found to be the major risk factor for indulgence in unsafe sex practices among adolescents. About 10% accepted involvement in premarital sex and majority of them (70%) of them had premarital sex between age group 15-19 years. The schools lacked in organizing awareness program and counseling activities on consequences of adolescent sex. The ARSH Program needs to synergize with school health program for desired results. Conclusions: Adolescent sexual risk behavior is a part of overall deviant behavior and can be managed in holistic manner

Predictors of Risky Sex Behavior among Adolescents in a Traditional Indian Society: Implications for Program Intervention Strategies

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the risk behavior and its effect on involvement in sex among school-going adolescents as a part of assessing implementation of Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Scheme (ARSH) in a state of India.Methods: The sample covered 3069 randomly selected adolescents (students) from 9th to 12th standard in various government, private and missionary-run schools from two districts, namely, Aizawl and Champhai in the state of Mizoram.Results: It was found that more than one-third of adolescents (37%) accepted taking alcohol and 72% of adolescents accepted seeing pornographic movies. Nearly 23% respondents were aware about premarital pregnancy among friends and 7.5% were aware about complication due to unsafe abortion among them. About 10% accepted involvement in premarital sex and majority of them (70%) had premarital sex between age group 15 and 19 years and 54% never used condom. Influence of peer group who were taking alcohol, tobacco and drug and exposure to erotic materials was found to be the major risk factors for indulgence in unsafe sex practices among adolescents.Conclusion: Better awareness and counseling against tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse, and pornographic literature among adolescents is needed through school health education.

Standards, Frameworks and Practices in Health Management Information and Evaluation Systems (HMIES) in Australia and India: Lessons for Future Transition in India?

India has a long history of the Health Management Information and Evaluation System (HMIES). Though it has well served its purpose of administrative reporting, however, it has failed to provide relevant and sufficient information to users of health services, planners and policy makers as available information is fragmented, incomplete and sometimes inconsistent. The National Health Policies of 1983 and 2002 and the National Statistical Commission of India 2005 have laid down clear benchmarks for HMIES. In spite of several efforts in the past, the national HMIES does not fully conform to ‘International Data Quality Frameworks, Systems and Standard Practices’. In this article, efforts are made to compare information collection and governance system, its standardization and extent of utilization for decision-making in Australia and India and give recommendations to transform our national HMIES to be compatible with international standards, frameworks and practices. </jats:p

Factors associated with Diabetes Mellitus among Tuberculosis Patients attending Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Worldwide increasing prevalence of DM may counteract the positive effects of improved curative services for TB. <strong>Aims &amp; Objectives:</strong> To identify factors associated with Diabetes Mellitus among Tuberculosis Patients attending Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi. <strong>Material &amp; Methods: </strong>This study was conducted among 220 TB patients. <strong>Results: </strong>It was found that 16% were co-morbid. Among co-morbid patients, the age distribution skewed towards higher age groups as compared with only TB patients. Co-morbidity was higher among females (64%) as compared to males (36%). Higher percentage among Co-morbid patients (78%) belonged to lower socio-economic class compared to TB patients (58%). Statistically significant association of comorbidity was found with physical activity, dietary habits and tobacco/alcohol consumption. However, only one third of patients who were aware about DM, knew that diabetic patients are more prone to acquire TB infection. Among co-morbid cases, only 50% were aware that uncontrolled DM delays the cure of TB. Findings also suggested that the sputum conversion rate among the co-morbid patients was low compared with the only TB patients. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concludes that counseling of patient with DM against higher risk of contracting TB and TB patients against delayed cure should be made as a part of national strategy to manage DM-TB comorbidity.</p